Federal officials say a wildlife refuge in central New York will be expanded to add habitat for migrating birds. (Read the entire news release)

The Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge on Cayuga Lake between Syracuse and Rochester is in the latest round of funding for the program, in line for almost $2.4 million to pay for about 600 acres.

The Department of the Interior says creating large, shallow pools of water on the land is expected to attract 9,000 more migratory water birds in the spring and 18,000 more in the fall.

The money is part of an $11 million allocation from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to add about 10,600 acres at seven sites. The others are in Montana, Texas, Oregon, California and South Carolina.